Release Date: 1 March 2019
Song Count: 11
Duration: 42 minutes, 56 seconds
Rating: 6.6/10
Description:
Song Count: 11
Duration: 42 minutes, 56 seconds
Rating: 6.6/10
Description:
It seems the ball has been rolling recently with 'rock' acts that strongly deviate sonically to a point of unrecognisability as pieces of rock music, and today's album, Flowers At The Scene, is no exception. Arranged by English singer-songwriter Tim Bowness, an artist primarily known as a member of No-Man but who churns out solo creations as well, this particular example of his musical prowess is his fifth full-length release. The eleven-song package is a dance of traditional instruments with a touch of rock instrumentation and a sprinkle of electronic enhancement to fully set in the emotions and ambience expressed within.
From piano keys, strings and contrabass to electronic guitars and a tasteful, alternating use of drum set percussion, there is plenty of metaphorical icing of artistic elements of several branches on top of this carefully baked musical pastry. The seeming mundaneness, the specifics of the chord progressions and use of music theory as well as Bowness' own soft vocals carrying through all of the tracks leaves the full experience with a very grounded and earth-bound effect, even in spite of the many tools used on the way. There is no ethereal divinity layered within the music here as much as there is more inert optimism and a brightly lit angle on the world around oneself as a mortal person, and a reflection of life in both its pleasant and sharper moments, as reflected by the shift in energy tracks like "It's the World" represent aurally.
Perhaps not a record for ones seeking a thirst-quenching piece ready to appease to many particular thrills or itches many more dedicated music listeners may sense, Flowers At The Scene nevertheless stands as a respectable album with an approachable sound, plenty to say and a consistency in its nature, like a spectating figure observing the action from further away, not expecting being talked to but gracing those who do so regardless. The seeming neutrality of what Tim Bowness' piece represents and how it goes about keeps me from developing any sort of major passion for any particular part of the experience, though subtle sparks of interest are present and there is plenty of art- and meaning-based merit integrated into the tracks that is quickly noticeable. Overall an album I end up respecting more than actually liking subjectively, but an interesting listen regardless.